Song Sung Blue (2025) : A Musical That Actually Has Something to Say

Lightning and Thunder, a Milwaukee husband and wife Neil Diamond tribute act, experience soaring success and devastating heartbreak in their musical journey together.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqU7iiHFCzw

There are movies you watch, and then there are movies that gently tap you on the shoulder halfway through and say, “Hey pal… you good?” Song Sung Blue is firmly in the second category. I went in expecting a toe-tapping, crowd-pleasing musical comfort food and instead got emotionally rear-ended by a semi-truck filled with Neil Diamond vinyl and unresolved marital feelings.

Let’s start here: Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson look like they’re actually in love. Not Hollywood “we had chemistry tests and a mood board” love. I mean the kind where you believe they’ve argued over directions, forgiven dumb comments, and still share a look that says, “Yeah, it’s still you.” Their chemistry is the engine of this movie, and it never stalls. You feel it in the quiet moments, the shared glances, the smiles that arrive half a second too late. If you’ve ever been married - or loved someone long enough to annoy them - this hits close to the ribs.

And yes, they sing. Really sing. Not the “actor bravely tries singing” version. These are seasoned performers who know how to sell a song and a feeling at the same time. Jackman, fresh off years of proving he can belt with the best of them, delivers another Greatest Showman–level homer, while Hudson taps back into that Almost Famous energy - loose, warm, and effortlessly musical. It’s like she never left the stage; she just took a scenic route through rom-coms first.

The supporting cast is no slouch either. Fisher Stevens brings a grounded, lived-in presence that quietly anchors the emotional chaos, and Ella Anderson adds just enough heart and perspective to keep the story from becoming a two-person emotional cage match. Everyone understood the assignment. No one’s winking at the camera. No one’s slumming it.

Now let’s talk tone - because this is where expectations go to die.

The trailers sell this movie like it’s going to charm you, maybe mist up your eyes once, and then send you home humming. Lies. Sweet, melodic lies. This thing is a drama, capital D. The second act doesn’t knock - it kicks the door in. Emotional beats stack up fast, and at times it feels like the movie is daring you to look away. If you’re not ready for that kind of commitment, bring snacks and emotional armor.

Personally, I prefer my male leads a little more stoic. Jackman’s character wears his heart fully outside his body, waving it around like a backstage laminate. It’s authentic, sure - but occasionally I wanted him to bottle it up just a notch, maybe put on a jacket of emotional restraint. That said, plenty of viewers will find that rawness refreshing. Mileage may vary depending on your tolerance for cinematic weeping.

The Neil Diamond soundtrack is both the movie’s heartbeat and, occasionally, its Achilles’ heel. If you’re a fan, you’ll be in heaven. If you’re a casual listener, you may find yourself thinking, “Okay Neil, we get it - you’re iconic.” The music serves the story well, but there are moments where it leans just a little too hard on repetition. Not enough to derail things, but enough to notice.

There’s also a great on-stage cameo that I will not spoil, other than to say: you’ll know it when it happens, and yes, you’ll smile like an idiot.

One thing worth noting: I’m not convinced this needs to be seen on the biggest screen possible. It’s intimate. Personal. This feels like a perfect couch movie - lights low, volume up, distractions gone. Big screens are great for explosions and superheroes. This one’s about faces, feelings, and the space between lyrics.

In the end, Song Sung Blue is a heartfelt, occasionally overwhelming, deeply sincere musical drama that knows exactly what it is - even if the marketing didn’t. It’s about love, ambition, compromise, and what happens when the song keeps going but life changes key. It won’t be for everyone, but if it clicks with you, it really clicks.

Final Ranking: 7.8 / 10